Gridlock? GOP Takes House, Dems Hold onto Senate

Updated Wednesday, 2:50 a.m. ET

CBS News is projecting that when all the races are determined, the Republicans will control the House but Democrats will maintain control of the Senate.

Republicans needed 10 gains in the Senate to win control, but as of early Wednesday morning, they had only won six. CBS News cannot yet project a winner in Colorado, Washington or Alaska because these races are still too close to call. On the House side, Republicans had picked up 58 seats as of early Wednesday, with several left to be counted.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will keep his seat, CBS projects, after a dramatic battle against Tea Party-backed Republican Sharron Angle. Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California is also projected to defeat Republican challenger Carly Fiorina, though the Republican refused to concede late Tuesday night.

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The GOP was able to pick up a Senate seat in Pennsylvania, where CBS projects Republican Pat Toomey will prevail over Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak. In Illinois -- in the battle for President Obama's old Senate seat -- Republican Mark Kirk is projected to win over Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.

CBS News further estimates that when all the votes are counted, Democrat Daniel Inouye will win the Hawaii Senate race.

In the House, Republicans have picked up well past the 39 seats needed to win the majority. The new balance of power will present a challenge for Mr. Obama as he attempts to continue with his agenda through the second half of his term, and it will give voters renewed expectations for progress in Washington.

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Republicans won a meaningful House victory early on in the evening in Virginia, where Republican Robert Hurt won the race for the state's fifth district. At 8:30, Hurt led Democratic incumbent Tom Perriello 52 percent to 46 percent. Perriello ran unabashedly on his record of supporting President Obama's agenda, and his re-election bid was considered something of an indicator as to whether the Obama supporters who voted in 2008 would mobilize again this year.

The GOP's strategy this year was to pick off Democrats elected in 2006 and 2008 to put their victory together, according to CBS News Capital Hill correspondent Nancy Cordes. Along with Perriello, freshman Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson lost in Forida's eighth district to Republican Daniel Webster.

Republicans also picked up a House seat in Indiana's ninth district, where Republican Todd Young defeated Democratic incumbent Baron Hill.

House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio, presumably the next speaker of the House, conducted a Skype call with Tea Party activists in his district tonight. "I'll never let you down," Boehner told the crowd in signing off.

Mr. Obama, meanwhile, called Boehner on Tuesday night, along with Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

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In his calls with Boehner and McConnell, the president said he was "looking forward to working with him and the Republicans to find common ground, move the country forward and get things done for the American people."

Rep. Mike Pence, chair of the House Republican Conference, said this election gives Republicans a "second chance."

"This election victory belongs to millions of Americans who stood up, spoke out and said 'enough is enough' and would no longer tolerate an imperial Congress that ignored the will of the people," he said in a statement. "House Republicans will welcome our new generation of leaders with open arms and work every day to deserve the confidence the American people have placed in us."

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House Republican Whip Eric Cantor said on the CBS News Election Night Special that he hopes to see a repeal of the president's health care reform package go to the floor under Republican control.

On the Senate side, Democrats took a beating in Wisconsin, where incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold lost to Republican Ron Johnson. In another critical Senate race in Missouri, Republican Roy Blunt defeated Democrat Robin Carnahan. Republican David Vitter of Louisiana held onto his Senate seat.

"Tonight the American peolple are repudiating Barack Obama's policies," Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, chair of the Republican Governors Association, said on the CBS News Election Night Special.

President Obama was not expected to make any statements until a news conference Wednesday. "We expect a lot of words about compromise from the White House tomorrow," said CBS News chief White House correspondent Chip Reid.

Republican Marco Rubio's victory in the Florida Senate race, along with Rand Paul's victory in the Kentucky Senate race, delivered the Tea Party movement two resounding wins on Election Night.

In Delaware, however, Democrat Chris Coons easily defeated Republican Tea Party favorite Christine O'Donnell. And in the closely-fought Senate contest in West Virginia, Democrat Joe Manchin defeated Republican John Raese.

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The GOP also pulled off a victory in the New Hampshire Senate race with candidate Kelly Ayotte. Republican Rob Portman won the Ohio Senate race, Republican Richard Burr won the North Carolina Senate race, and Republican Dan Coats won the Indiana Senate race.

Republicans also picked up a seat in North Dakota, where John Hoeven won the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan.

Democrats saw some good news in Connecticut, where Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal defeated Republican Linda McMahon, and in Maryland, where Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski won her re-election bid.

Democratic Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Ron Wyden of Oregon retained their seats, as did Republican Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Mike Crapo of Idaho.

CBS News' preliminary exit polling today showed that voters are disillusioned with Mr. Obama and even more so with Congress.

Voters seem to be willing to put Republicans back in power after growing impatient with the poor economy and high unemployment rates that have lingered under Democratic control.

"Dissatisfaction with the economy and performance of the government is the key to the whole night," said Jeff Greenfield, CBS News Senior Political Correspondent.

President Obama and the Democrats have managed to pass several pieces of legislation in the past two years -- including major packages like health care reform -- but nevertheless face poor approval ratings from voters. For instance, nearly half of voters surveyed nationally in today's preliminary exit polling -- 48 percent -- said health care reform should be repealed.

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Democrats have also struggled to mobilize their core supporters this year the way Republicans have. Today's preliminary exit polling shows that African-American voters -- who overwhelmingly support President Obama -- represent 10 percent of voters this year, compared with 13 percent in 2008. Hispanics represent 8 percent of voters this year, and 66 percent are voting Democratic. Additionally, just 9 percent of voters are in between the ages of 18 and 29, compared with 18 percent of voters in 2008. Among those young voters, 58 percent are voting Democratic.

Independents make up 28 percent of voters this year, according to the preliminary exit polling, and 56 percent of them are voting Republican. Just 39 percent are voting Democratic. Fifty-five percent of men surveyed are voting Republican, while 43 percent are voting Democratic. Among women, 49 percent are voting Democratic, and 48 percent are voting Republican.

Anxious for results out of Washington, about three in four voters said in a recent CBS News poll they want Republicans and Mr. Obama to compromise with each other. Voters also want a fresh start: As many as 80 percent of likely voters in a recent CBS News poll said that most members of Congress should be replaced with someone new.

A new Congress, however, may just mean stronger ideological divisions. A number of conservative candidates like Paul surged to success by refusing to compromise their political principles and winning the support of groups like the Tea Party. In Kentucky, preliminary exit polling shows that 43 percent of voters were Tea Party supporters, including 24 percent who were strong supporters.

[abby_del_abbey]

The end result of the elections will be this: the GOP & Democrats will never cooperate, compromise, or serve the American people. The Tea Party will rattle the cage but achieve nothing as they are all sound and fury and signifying nothing (to paraphrase). The end result: the rich will continue to get richer and richer; the middle class will continue to dwindle and move down the economic ladder; the poor will tighten their belts again and again.

[gringagirl]

Since when did CBS join the news media race to the bottom? That image of Obama, with his "white" side being Republican and his darker side being Democratic is truly distasteful and offensive. You should take the image down and apologize.

[jackomon]

Wow. That photo is blatant. Who thought THAT was a good idea? I understand you had to "split" Obama to show the dual influences now on him, but how about a hologram type of image of him at once moving left and right? Maybe just a more defined line? But lighter v. darker? How could you miss all of the possible misinterpretations? Democrats are his "blacker" side while Republicans are his "whiter" side? Come on, people.

[ReadingAllAboutIt]

Is CBS News an advocate for racism? Shame on the editor for this article for propounding such a philosophy with this 'doctored' photo.

[JustaWondering]

Curious...the picture of President Obama...is this another way of saying "racist" about the GOP? Again? Amazing to me that if you "say" something that the liberal/progressive media doesn't like, you very well may lose your job (right Juan?) but they can post a picture without "saying" anything and it is OK. I guess it shows just how in touch the main-stream media are with we, the people....and once again proves the point that there is no such thing an impartial journalist just reporting "the facts". WOW.

[tateofpa]

Why this picture, is it because of loosing the mid terms that he's turning pale or is it CBS & AP view of the GOP being the party of just whites, if this is the case, it is wrong and they should apologies to all the Republicans. Let stop playing games that divide us by color, race and income. There is enough that separate us, just with the policies different. CBS & AP should be looking at policies not race.

[mjhaze]

Why do elected officials contend they speak for the "people"? They speak for the people that voted for them. In general, that's some % of registered voters that voted in the election. Which is some % of people of voting age. Because of our poor voting participation, winning by a landslide still means --and this is important-- the majority of voting age people didn't vote for the winner. Why do politicians contend "the people" want this? When, in general, it's less than 50%. WHY DO REPORTERS REFUSE TO CORRECT OR NOTATE THIS IMPROPER USE OF---"THE PEOPLE?"

[NYGradStudent]

I am angry that so many democratic career politicians made it back into office such as Boxer, Reid, Schumer, Slaughter, Cuomo, and many others. Cuomo has allowed so many politicians walk away from corruption what will he do once he sits on the highest state seat? Others attest to the fact of how long they has been in office, some such as Slaughter (12 terms) knows exactly what needs to be done - well why hasn't she already done something to fix it instead of letting things continually get worse?! I'm a grad student and I am scared to death when I graduate there will not be a job and I will not be able to pay back my student loans! I figure I should start packing my bags now, but where would I go? You people on CBS News, Katie Couric, state how Republicans are coming in with an attitude of stubbornness, not wanting to compromise - THANK GOD!! We are trillions of dollars in debt, growing by the minute, doctors retiring due to the healthcare bill, and no jobs being created. With the same people in office, do you really think things are going to change?!! That is the definition of INSANITY people!!! We need to change not compromise!

[richarth]

Please tell Nancy Cordes and everyone else at CBS news that "Decimate" means a loss of one tenth. This is one of the most misused words in broadcasting.

[abby_del_abbey]

hello -- dec?i?mate (ds-mt)
tr.v. dec?i?mat?ed, dec?i?mat?ing, dec?i?mates
1. To destroy or kill a large part of (a group).
2. Usage Problem
a. To inflict great destruction or damage on: The fawns decimated my rose bushes.
b. To reduce markedly in amount: a profligate heir who decimated his trust fund.
3. To select by lot and kill one in every ten of.

[noloyalisti]

We now have a House of Representatives that are owned and controlled by big corporations and the filthy rich. They have more money, more rights, more freedom and more life than the rest of the American people. I guess that is what the ignorant, coach potato, shopping mall, TV watching, ignorant fat white Americans wanted. And they got it.

[Lifeson2112]

I'm curious. How do they have more rights and more freedom?

[mjhaze]

more rights bought/more freedom bought/no one gets wealthy by themself-workers produce the product,someone buys it.